Kay's Art

The Sounds of Music

2012-02-04T18:33:00.000-08:00

At Warrandyte

2011-10-27T00:08:00.000-07:00

This is my latest picture, black contae on orange paper. I went to Warrandyte the other day for a drive and took some photos of the interesting buildings that run along the main street.

A touch of Melbourne

2011-10-23T21:23:00.000-07:00

New drawing

2011-10-17T02:42:00.000-07:00

This is my latest drawing. I hope it draws you down the street.

The Debutane

2011-09-11T04:25:00.000-07:00

An acrylic on canvas

2011-09-11T04:17:00.000-07:00

This is a street scape painted on canvas. Lots of fun letting the paint dribble down the canvas.

Charcoal on canvas

2011-09-11T03:37:00.000-07:00

We had an American exchange student staying with us. He has gone back to the US and this is a picture I did for him. In it are my two children and our exchange student.

Art and Jazz

2011-09-11T03:33:00.000-07:00

This piece is from a night out at an art opening in Fitzroy street, Melbourne. This was the duo playing at the opening.

Alleys and graffiti

2011-09-11T03:25:00.000-07:00

Hi its a long time since I have had the opportunity to blog. I have been busy studying and now have completed a masters of nursing. This piece is a new technique attempted with charcoal and pastel.

A commission piece

2011-03-03T17:26:00.000-08:00

This is a commission piece. Gee don't you feel a lot of pressure when you are doing the painting for someone else and wondering if this is what they wanted captured.

Nude

2011-03-03T17:20:00.000-08:00

Hi sorry I have been away for so long. You know what its like. Life is so busy. This is an oil I have attempted for Ringwood Art Society's artist of the Year. It was a bit of a struggle and could have probably had some more work done on it but I ran out of time. I had to allow it drying time. Delivery is this Saturday.

Preparation

2010-12-04T03:24:00.000-08:00

My latest picture. This one was requested by my daughter for her room. She wants a vintage feel in her bedroom with lots of black and white. Gone are the dolls and teddies. They grow up so fast.

A special moment

2010-10-23T14:10:00.000-07:00

This painting is inspired by a lady called Dee who is currently battling cancer. She recently went to Queensland and took some wonderful shots and had them compiled in book form. It was like a professional photography book. This is from one of her images that she captured so well.

Dance of the Fairies

2010-09-22T20:39:00.000-07:00

Imagine this cropped, I need to find a programme to do this as the one on my computer is no good at present. My fairy dancing is going into the Pastel Society exhibition coming up in October. This painting was inspired by my childrens ballet concert.

Young Love

2010-09-02T03:36:00.000-07:00

I took my daughter and her boyfriend into the city and had them pose in a variety of places around the streets of Melbourne. After we all recovered from the awkwardness, the photos turned out rather well. From these pictures I have taken inspiration for this painting "Young Love".

Warming up

2010-08-04T23:29:00.000-07:00

Beautiful ballet dancers from my children's dance concert. The routine was quite comical depicting children in a ballet class. There was always some one being a little bit naughty or doing the wrong thing on stage.

Stop in the name of the law

2010-07-31T04:20:00.000-07:00

Hello, good to post after so long. I have had some house guests and uni stuff going on. Life is so busy. It would be nice to just do the things that you want to do instead of the things you have to do.

This painting depicts English policemen in conversation with a man on a bike. Whether it is a friendly encounter or something a little more on the darker side is left up to your imagination.

2010-06-17T01:52:00.000-07:00

Finally a piece of art work to display. This picture has been reworkde several times. It actually started off quite inspiring and then became very muddy. Now, finally reworked with more color and hopefully more pizazz. Kay

Camel Ride

2010-05-20T01:03:00.000-07:00

Hi, I'm sorry I haven't been around to blog at all. I am doing a subject at uni this semester and it has taken up a lot of my spare time. I have just handed in one assignment and I am half way through the next assignment. Very time consuming.

This picture is from central Australia where my daughter has just been on school camp. The camel ride named for whast it is. I loved the colors in these outback shots. The red dust and the blue sky.

Alice Springs

2010-04-27T02:00:00.000-07:00

Hello, its starting to get really cold now in Australia. The weather is gearing up for winter. My son had soccer training tonight in the wet.

This painting is a picture of the Springs in Alice Springs. My daughter has just returned from school camp. Having spent eight days away on a bus travelling out back Australia.

Dancers

2010-03-21T00:57:00.000-07:00

There are so many things that I should be doing and instead I've been painting. Oh well, much more fun.

New work in progress

2010-03-18T00:46:00.000-07:00

I began this picture today. Inspired by my son and daughters end of year dance concert. These two caught my eye. While the older students are amazing to watch, the younger students capture your heart.

This is one of the first times I have actually used black in a painting. I had some under painting with colors and then over the top with black pastel. I think the contrasts are effective.

Mosman Gorge

2010-03-08T02:06:00.000-08:00

This picture is inspired by our trip to Cairns last year. We swam at these falls. The place is breath taking in its beauty. The two children in the foreground are my son and daughter.

Three little gangsters

2010-03-06T15:18:00.000-08:00

How cool is this. One of my friends who lives in Sydney came down for my 40th birthday, quite a while ago now. The theme was 1920s. She has four boys and they all dressed up in gangster outfits. I took many pictures of them all and painted a picture of my son with two of her boys. She really liked the painting so I sent it up to her this year. She just sent me an email with the pictures in a choice of two frames. I liked this one the best. The framing shop must be able to scan the picture into the computer and then add the look of the mount and frame, so you have a clear idea of the finished product.

I haven't come across a framing shop in Melbourne with this facility yet. Looks like Sydney is one up on us Melbournians.

Day Dreamer

2010-02-27T21:38:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have days when you keep fiddling with a picture and you muddy it up. Well today I couldn't help but play with the previous posted picture "Steet Beat" and now it is getting really muddy. I know at some point I should have stoped but couldn't help myself.

My husband said to put the picture away for a while. What a great idea! So I started this little cutie. Isn't he gorgeous. He has so much expression in his eyes. Just captivating. This portrait is from a photo reference taken by a lovely friend Lyndal Alston who has lent me many photos. She is an amazing photographer. She has been working in many rural areas in outback Australia and has captured some amazing pictures of people and places. Lucky me I have been able to use these photos.

Lion Love

2010-02-19T13:01:00.000-08:00

Here is an ink drawing that I have just completed. The reference is from Sam Mowska's photos from whilst he was in Africa. The reference was used with permission.

Street Beat

2010-02-17T21:05:00.000-08:00

This, I think is now finished. I had a fabulous day off today and spoilt myself. I had me time at home. It was so nice having the house to myself to do what I wanted. Then I went and spent time with all my art buddies. I love you guys.

Street Beat WIP

2010-02-06T23:54:00.000-08:00

HI, I am sorry that it has taken me so long to post something and that something isn't even finished yet. I have been very busy, I am working full time and the kids have been on school holidays. They have just gone back to school. I think that the break was so long, maybe that is how the teachers plan it, to wear the kids out from too much fun time. They have actually enjoyed getting back to school.

This picture, while still requiring finishing is from a little excursion my daughter and I took in to the city. I have previously painted another view of this street. It is one of my favourite alley ways in Melbourne.

I hope to capture the business of the street and the excitement and fun. Looking forward to another busy year ahead. I am studying again, as I have started working in another area which I am enjoying and at present working full time. I need to find some time to get some painting done. So I hope to keep you posted with the finished rpoduct of this painting soon.

Bush Clown

2009-12-19T19:22:00.001-08:00

Hi, it was my birthday today which was a bit depressing. I am not really enjoying getting any older but I had a nice surprise. I went to pick up my paintings from AGRA in their Summer exhibition. This was the first time that I have exhibited and was happily surprised to have received a commended for this piece and to have sold it as well. Happy Birthday to me. May be getting older isn't so bad.

Summer

2009-12-12T01:36:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to everyone and I hope that you all get a chance to relax and enjoy the moment.

I have been painting another beach scene. I was captivated by the power of the parental bond and child. The protective nature of the father sheltering his child from the impact of the waves. They continue to roll up on the shoreline and churn up the sand in the shallows while dad and baby play in the shallows.

The Red Bucket

2009-11-15T00:38:00.000-08:00

I think I have finished now. I have enjoyd this piece a bit of fun.

I just dropped off some work to the Lilydale show. A local agriculture show that we have. They have anything from cooking to art and award ribbons for works. I have entered in to it for the last couple of years. One good thing about it is that it is nice and close. I nearly missed the drop off today as I have lost my entry form and thought the drop off was after 5 but it was meant to be before 4.00pm. I was lucky that the man taking the pieces was still there.

The red bucket WIP

2009-11-07T23:00:00.000-08:00

It was a beautiful day today, but a little hot 33 degrees celcius. The gorgeous weather inspired the beginnings of this beach scene. An intimate moment between brother and big sister playing with a bucket on the beach.

Some more work is required to finish, but at least you can see that I have been painting. This is the first piece I have started since working full time. Everyone in my family had gone out for the day which left me with some quiet time. I put some blues music on the stereo and listenend to the sounds of the brass and the beat of the music.

2009-11-01T01:16:00.000-07:00

Hi, I have started working full time which is eating into my painting time. This is a small sketch in conte. It is of my niece who is in Engalnd. This was from one of her graduation ball photos.

Today we went to a local market that has moved to Healesville. The new location is really pretty and the crowds were buzzing. It is a craft market and I went there with a purpose. All the grand children and great grandchildren of my granny pat received some money. While I have banked my children's I spent some of mine today on a rustic outdoor seat made from redgum and old rusty wheels. I love it as I love my granny. I hope to have it for a long time to come to remind me of her.

Granny Pat was an outdoor person who loved gardening. She also loved chairs so I am sure she will love my choice of purchase.

I was lucky I think to buy it now because when I asked the man who made it where he got the wheels from, he said his supply was drying up and he was looking to continue with other business endeavours.

Show Time

2009-10-11T17:26:00.000-07:00

Hi, I have been having an artistic block. I thought I'd lost my ability to do anything worth showing here. Does anyone else have this sort of trouble? The last couple of pieces I can't even post because they turned out so abysmally. I was beginning to think that I should stop wasting my time. Then I started this piece. It was though it painted itself. I had a clear visual about what I wanted from the start. I kept my colour pallete very limited and I whipped this piece up. It happened so quickly, like with a good book, I felt that I had completed it too quickly.

This piece is from the Royal Melbourne show. I went with my son and some friends on a beautiful spring day. Luckily we did go this particular day as it rained the rest of the week. I think I have captured the fun and excitement of the crowd and the complexities of what was happening.

Hawthorn Studio and Gallery

2009-09-29T00:23:00.000-07:00

Hi, yesterday I met with the director of a gallery which is to be opened in Hawthorn in November, with the view of exhibiting some of my work. After a lovely meeting I am pleased to say these three pieces will be exhibitied over the month of November. The gallery details are 635 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn. The web address is www.hawthornstudiogallery.com.au. Angela is the director and her husband Graeme, is a sculptor. He will have his studio on the premises.

Clowning around

2009-09-29T00:14:00.000-07:00

Hi, you must know by now how much I love clowns. I think it is because they are so emmotive. Their acts are always exaggerated comedy, tradgedy etc. So, knowing that I am enthralled with clowns, imagine how delighted I was to be able to see a clown act at the Royal Melbourne show last week. We went on a beautiful spring day, which was very lucky as it rained for the rest of the week. This is a preliminary sketch for a painting I intend on depicting.

Universal Studios

2009-09-16T23:55:00.000-07:00

This painting was inspired by a trip that we took to America nearly 10 years ago. We visited Florida and were lucky enough to visit a number of theme parks whilst we were there.

I was at a loose end about what to paint and was attracted to the darks and lights in the photo reference.

String Quartette

2009-09-03T00:36:00.000-07:00

This painting was inspired by a photo that I took at a friend's wedding. They had this lovely string quartette playing as they were married on a little jetty over looking a lake. The day was extremely hot. These musicians must have suffered from the heat.

Bush Clown

2009-08-27T00:44:00.000-07:00

I did this painting from a black and white picture. I imagined the colors that I wanted and I thought it would be best with a color scheme of green, red and blue. The picture virtually painted itself. Once again I feel a bit more work on the hands but I was excited to publish it on the net and will work on them some more at leisure.

Concentration

2009-08-20T22:27:00.000-07:00

Hi, this is another portrait of Aurelio that I have painted. This time from a photo instead of from life. I've been reading a book on Rembrandt and looking at his portraits. I wanted to capture some of the light and dark that Rembrandt used but it didn't work to well on this picture. I need more dramatic lighting in real life to be able to try and attemt this. Over all I a am pleased with this picture. There might need a bit of improvement on the hands yet. What do you think?

Dragon Delight

2009-08-06T19:52:00.000-07:00

Hi, this latest painting is from my imagination, which is a tough thing to do when you are used to having references. It was an exercise. I must say I started off dreading doing this and had a bit of a think. Then I did a little sketch to see if it might work out on paper.

I chose a dragon to paint, as I love them. I am an avid sci fi fantasy reader. I enjoy all the stories with dragons and magic and a hero. I thought the dragon looked ferocious and so I drew some scared little fairies that the dragon had perchanced across. I stood there thinking what does scared look like and I thought big startled eyes and a wide open mouth, perhaps racing off screaming.

Critique night at pastel society

2009-08-03T17:47:00.000-07:00

I took this painting along to a critique night at the pastel society. What an interesting night. Robert Wade was the artist critiquing. He was a wealth of knowledge and constructive in his opinion. As a result I have tried to tone the background down a bit so it is not fighting with the whole picture. He loves broad strokes and was fond of commenting on them in different pictures. I have utilised lots of lines in this picture which was confliciting to the judges opinion. The main thing is I enjoyed painting this picture, which inthe end is all that matters.

One of my favourite pieces for the night was a painting of a venetian mask with masses of feathers surrounding the mask. The detail in the body of the mask was magnificent with gorgeous contrasting loose feathers enveloping it.

Millgrove Saw Mill

2009-07-30T00:43:00.000-07:00

Hi, I feel like I may be channelling Van Gough without the anguished mental state at present. I am really enjoying the looseness and freedom of this scribbly style of painting.

This picture is as titled Millgrove Saw mill. I have previously drawn a small black and white of the mill. We were driving up the road to Warburton where you pass this saw mill. We often enjoy going for drives as a family, especially with the hills and Yarra Valley just on our door step. Actually I don't think the kids think it is that much of a terrific idea, but we enjoy it. I was captivated by the rusticness of the saw mill with all the bits of timber in piles everywhere. I especially liked the pipe that dissects through the picture like a roof top.

I won a third prize at the Ringwood art Society judged competition for my "Aboriginal Children" the other week. So that was excting news. I have paintings going into the Mt. Waverley competition in a week and The Bay side exhibition in Brighton. I am hoping for some sales, which would be nice. I am keeping my fingers crossed for my friends as well. Good luck everyone, lots of red dots please!

Didgeridoo

2009-07-19T22:21:00.001-07:00

The didgeridoo, an aboriginal musical instrument that only a amle may play. The sound resonates through the air in a distinct melodic way.

I had lots of fun with this aboriginal man. Once again the source of reference has to be credited to Lyndal Alston.

A game of cricket!

2009-07-15T23:09:00.001-07:00

Okay, my previous blog of the work in progress just got stuck. I may go back to it at a later date. This picture of aboriginal children holding a cricket bat is my latest work. They are so animated and full of personality. Once again I have to credit the source of the reference to a friend Lyndal Alston. She is a fabulous photographer and was able to capture so much liveliness.

I really enjoyed the colors in this picture and I had a lot of fun with the animation of the central figure.

Work in Progress

2009-06-18T16:15:00.000-07:00

I started this piece yesterday. It is another scene from karunda Markets. I am not sure where it is going, but it will definately be an experimental journey in technique.

Aboriginal children

2009-06-18T16:05:00.000-07:00

This is the finished piece. I am still trying to come up with a title for the picture. What do you think about "What are you looking at?".

Aboriginal Children

2009-06-11T22:51:00.000-07:00

Hi, I haven't quite finished this piece but what do you think? I was lucky enough to get the reference from Lyndal Alston, a friend and great photographer. Who was working in the outback.

If you can think of a good name for this piece I would apreciate the help in naming it.

I recently exhibited at Belgrave Fire Brigade show and was lucky enough to sell two pieces there, "The Chocolate Shop" and "What about me?" Thanks to who ever bought these pieces, especially during recession times. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did painting them. The good thing about this is it gives me a little bit more money to spend on additional framing. This is the really hard part about doing pastel paintings, as they need to be framed under glass and costs a lot of money. If you try and do it cheaply then the whole look of the picture is spoilt.
Now, I have to think about the next show, what to exhibit and maybe get something new framed for it.

George

2009-05-28T00:51:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of George, painted in two sessions. The aim was to try and capture the light and dark of his face and of course aiming for a bit of a likeness. It was a great exercise. I enjoy painting from real life sittings, much more satisfying then painting from photos when you are relying on the quality of the photo. I had a ball. I am continuing to use the line technique.

Millgrove Saw Mill

2009-05-16T04:31:00.000-07:00

Here is another little sketch that I have completed. I think I may use this as a study for a pastel.

Kuranda Markets

2009-05-14T21:59:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been to Cairns? This is where we went for our last holiday. The climate is balmy. Karanda Markets is one of the tourist destinations in Cairns. We travelled up the mountain by steam train and arrived at Karanda. You travel through the tropical rainforest to get there. These markets are situated in little lane ways off the main street. The terrain is hilly and the products are hippie in nature. This picture is one of the areas of the market place. After we visited the markets, we caught the cable car back down the mountain, over the top of the beautiful rainforest.

Pelican

2009-05-05T22:19:00.000-07:00

I went to the zoo with my daughter at the start of the year and took lots of photos. I feel sorry for the animals being in captivity, but it is a wonderful place to observe them. This pelican is one of the inhabitants. The picture is in indian ink on 300gsm of water color paper.

This is now the new improved picture of the pelican. As suggested by Wendi, I have dsarkened the area behind the pelican so the pelican stands out from the background a bit.

A Giant Amongst People cont.....

2009-05-01T22:38:00.000-07:00

This is finished now and I am pleased with the end result. I will continue to experiment with the same technique. This technique really suits my style anyway and has returned my looseness to my painting. I am very gald that I watched the Max Wilkes DVD.

I just have to be careful about cross hatching and have more random lines.

A giant amongst people-scumbelling cont W.I.P.

2009-04-30T00:28:00.000-07:00

Hi, this is my clown piece contiued. I have worked more on the clown. I am finding this technique making my worker fresher with its looseness. I think lately I have been losing that in my work.

I have worked on the people in the crowd on the left and have yet to start onthe people on the right.

Some good news this week. I put three pieces in Camberwell Art show. Two out of the three were selected for hanging and apparently I have sold one as well. Very happy!

Scumbelling

2009-04-29T00:36:00.000-07:00

Hi, this is my latest work in progress. It was inspired after watching Max Wilkes video on his pastelling technique, scumbelling. Max Wilkes is an Australian artist, who lives in the Dandenongs.

He starts his pictures off in pink on black paper. I have used blue paper as that is all I had. Then you use lots of lines. Blend colors by using line work over line work. I will keep on posting as this work progresses.

Mirror Image

2009-04-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

I asked my husband last night whether he liked this picture and he said that our daughter was beautiful and would look better with the sunglasses off. So I have taken her sunglasses off and I am working on her face. I hope you like the new improved version.

Mirror Image

2009-04-20T18:57:00.000-07:00

Just been on a trip to Cairns. Had the best time. We went snorkelling on the outer reef, highlight of the trip. We visited many waterfalls. Went to Green Island and snorkelled there. Swam at Josephine Falls and Mosman Gorge. Visited a Crocodile place.Went to Karunda and visted the markets. Travelled there by train and back by skyrail over the wonders of the tropical forest.

This is a picture of my daughter studying her reflection in the image. I will tweak it a bit further.

Out of Africa

2009-04-19T18:50:00.000-07:00

Okay, tell me which one you like better. The picture below or this one. This is another indian ink on 300gm water color paper. The image is once again taken from Sam Mowska's African pictures with permission.

I have been doing these small ink pictures at the moment for an art show coming up and need to choose the better one. What do you think???

Unconditional Love

2009-04-01T23:43:00.000-07:00

"Unconditional Love" executed in black ink on water color paper. The reference is from Sam Moskwa's pictures form Africa utilised with permission.

This picture I fell in love with the elephant wrapping his trunk around the mother and it shows the universal bonding of all creatures for thier parents.

I really enjoyed working this picture in black and white and as you can see a different medium for a change.

Warrandyte Art Show

2009-03-22T18:25:00.000-07:00

Warrandyte art show was 20-22 March. This picture was painted late last year and it has been hanging in Koko Lime for several months. It sold at the Warrandyte Rotary Art Show. My first sale for the year, which is very nice in these uncertain economic times. I am sure the last thing on people's minds is buying art. I am a little sad to see this picture go because it was one of my favourites. I liked the buzz of the people and the business of the street. Degraves Street, such an interesting alley way in the centre of the city. I hope the purchaser of this painting enjoys it as much as I did painting it. Thanks for buying my art!!! By the way I had taken this painting to Ringwood art Society on Monday night and came first with it in the B category. The judge was Lynette Orzlowski.

I hope this sale prompts more of the same with our exhibition at "Lady Hawke Cafe" continuing to the end of the month and the Yarra Glen show at Easter.

Late for work

2009-03-01T16:17:00.000-08:00

What an exhausting weekend. It was my daughter Teone's 15th birthday, which she shared jointly with her girlfriend Jazz. Their birthday's are the same day. They had a disco party in the backyard and the kids behaved really well.

Saturday morning my 96 year old granny died, which is much better for her but very sad just the same. That was my last grandparent left alive. The funeral is on Thursday.

Then Sunday night we had the opening of the Innovision exhibition. There was a large turn out and one painting sold. Wish us good luck for sales for the rest of the exhibition.

Finally this work titled "Late for work" is another city scape done with a metholated spirits underpainting. May need a few tweeks here and there yet.

Innovision

2009-02-19T15:04:00.000-08:00

This is my art group. We have called our selves Innovision. There are two members missing from the pictures Wendi and Yumee. We are having an exhibition commencing Sunday the 1st of March at 5.00pm at the Lady Hawke Cafe, Mount Dandenong. If anyone is local and reads my blog please come to the opening. The more the merrier. I am just in the process of trying to work out what paintings to have at the exhibition as it will be up for a month.

The address is 1365 Dandenong Tourist Road, Mount Dandenong (Mel.66 G1). The exhibition will continue from Sun 1st March to Sun 30th March, 9am to 5 pm. Open Thursday to Monday. Closed Tues and Wednesday.

Rush Hour

2009-02-19T14:49:00.000-08:00

I really enjoy trying new methods of painting. This one was really fun. Some people in my art group had been to a work shop in this method and so we all tried it. The results were fun and really varied. You first analyse the picture you are to paint. Then you work out two colors for the underpainting. This is painted on white colorfix paper. For dramatic results go for the complimentary colors. Work them in heavily with pastel just blocking in the shapes. Then get a large paint brush soaked in metholated spirits and paint the pastel. Use more metho if you wish to have runs and splash marks in your work. Wait for the under painting to dry. Then you work your painting on top of the underpainting.

I used orange and green for my under painting and then worked red browns and blue over these colors. I liked the fact that the under painting could be used to block in your big shapes. It gives the painting an interconnection.

Try it,it's lots of fun!!!

Life Drawing

2009-02-19T14:37:00.000-08:00

Life drawing is such a good discipline. I wish I could always have the time to go. The time limitations, observation techniques required and the wish to create something that half resembles the model makes life drawing exciting and requires great concentration.

This model had a lovely voluptious body which made the painting of her more fun.

Summer Waders-Launching Place

2009-01-20T17:10:00.000-08:00

I just whipped this picture up. I fell in love with the colors and reflections in the river. The two people are Teone, my daughter and Jazz her friend. The photo was taken by Laura on Teone's camera. Thanks to the kids I had this ace reference.

I started the picture concentrating on the lights and darks. Then focused on the patterns in the river of colors and shapes.

I finshed the pictureconcentrating on the girls. I love to depict the highlights and try to make sure the figures look animated.

I hope other people like the mystery of the far bank. To me, it was like a magical place, full of shadows and light. Anything could happen on the bank of the river.

Three little gangsters

2009-01-12T18:28:00.000-08:00

Hello and a happy new yearto everyone for 2009. Here is my first posting for 2009. I will have to get busy and update a little more often.

This picture was from my 40th birthday party. The party was themed with a 1920's style. So I think you will see more pictures with this theme included. The child in the left is my son Sean and the other boys are Sean and Callum, who are brothers. They were part of the mob from Sydney who stayed with us for the week leading up to my birthday. Unfortunately I over indulged and so the week is a bit blurry but lots of fun.

These three at the beginning of the party hung around in the street. Asking all who were coming to the party for their invitation. If they didn't have an invitation they were hit up for 20 dollars with toy guns. Then another gangster would say, ok we will let you in this time.

Shopping Bustle

2008-12-12T01:58:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrate Christmas and with only 15 days to go it is total madness out there on the roads and in the shops, so be safe and have fun.

This picture was created this week and based on a city street scene from Melbourne. I wanted the hustle and bustle of the city street, combined with the darkness from the city lane ways. The bright lights and reflections in the shadows were another aim of the picture. Darks and lights, along with interesting shapes captured my imagination when painting this picture. I also enjoyed the colors that I picked to depict the scene.

This week had some good and bad. My heart goes out to my cousin Michael and his wife Belinda and their daughter Holly after their little son Nicholas passed away last Sunday with the funeral being today. He had a brave fight against cancer. Too young to die at the age of 21 months.

I hope everyone enjoys the festive season with their loved ones. Merry Christmas again and take it easy. Oh and next Saturday is my 40th birthday in which I am celebrating with a party. I am looking forward to this and catching up with family and friends.

St. Mark's Square

2008-12-03T23:08:00.000-08:00

This picture was taken from a photo reference from a friend who has recently spent time travelling Europe. It is of St. Mark's Square in Venice. I was interested in the many pigeons and people all going about their business. My friend is in the foreground feeding the pigeons, which is apparently the thing one does in St. Mark's Square. I have used creams and blues. The light appears very bright. I had fun depicting the buildings in the background and was tempted to keep adding detail but I wanted the viewer to look at the pigeons and my friend in the foreground.

I have become part of a group of artists called INNOVISION who plan to exhibit together. We have a small exhibit at a cafe called Lakeside Cafe, Ringwood commencing this Saturday the 6th of December. It is going for a month or two. Then in the beginning of March we are exhibiting up the Dandenong Mountains at Lady Hawke Cafe. This will be a much larger exhibition. There are about ten of us participating in these exhibitions. We hope to continue to have further exhibits together.

My other news is that I won a first for the overall General MEC Awards for The Pastel Society of Victoria. Each month at the meetings you can bring a picture a long and during the break all members of the society can look at the work and vote on the work that they like the best. At the end of the year the votes are totalled for the year and I happened to win the first for the general section. Unfortunately I was unable to be at the meeting, but my friend Wendi was able to accept my award for me.

The Camp Fire

2008-11-16T23:14:00.000-08:00

I love the smell of smoke from a campfire. I love the heat from a campfire. I love the atmosphere created by a campfire. i just love them. I guess you can tell. I wanted to create the glow and the heat of the fire in this picture which is not quite finished.

Friendship

2008-11-05T22:15:00.000-08:00

We went to a friend's farm recently for the AFL Grand final. A group of families spent the day watching the footy, drinking, eating and then spent time around the camp fire. My girl friend and I managed to consume vast quantities of champaign which we both suffered for in the morning. The next day the kids went motorbike riding around the paddocks and my children decided that they too wished to live in the country. This is a picture of two of the children at the farm, hand in hand walking up the drive. I was inspired to try my hand at another landscape with this charming act of friendship.

Aurelio

2008-10-29T23:34:00.000-07:00

I painted this picture today from a sitting. His name is Aurelio and he is a native American Indian. He brought all his native dress in for us to see and wore a lot of it and this is how we painted him. Aurelio at break times would eleborate on parts of his dress and their meaning and told us a little of his culture. He comes from a tribe that is medicine based and so a lot of the designs on his clothes were of plants that are used for medicinal purposes. It was great fun and very interesting.

Workshop with Raelene Sharp

2008-10-26T02:14:00.000-07:00

Today I attended a workshop with Raelene Sharp. Amazing painter. These gum trees were from a photo image from Raelene. She demonstrated as we worked through the picture. You learn so much from other artists watching them work and from their instruction . I found this piece very frustrating initially as a; I am not used to doing landscapes and b, I am not used to working in her method. At one point I was nearly ready to throw the picture in the bin but I'm glad I didn't because I learnt a lot and I am happy with the painting.

Busking in the City

2008-10-24T01:36:00.000-07:00

This is the same person from the picture called "City Buskers". I decided that the last one didn't really work and have depicted the drum playing musician protrait style. I tried to capture the movement of the hands to establish the energy of the music. This person fascinated me with his cool look and fun music.

Artists in the Round

2008-10-23T01:52:00.000-07:00

What an interesting day today with my art group! Everyone started their own picture and we had 10 minutes to begin our picture. Then we all rotated round one painting and worked on the next picture with that persons pastels. We kept rotating and finally finished back at our own painting to complete the picture. This picture "Tip toe through the Tulips" is the end result. It was great fun and actually taught us each a lot about each persons paintings and their styles etc.

What makes art sell???????

2008-10-19T22:09:00.000-07:00

I have been on nights for the last two weeks, which has meant my art work coming to a stand still. I have to just try and survive the two weeks and any creativity is gone. On a happier note, I have sold these three paintings at different places over the last month. A great feeling selling your art work because you know somebody really loves it enough to buy and treasure it. They appreciate it bydisplaying it on their walls for family and friends to view. But why do people buy your art and what is a winning formula? I have no idea. Do people buy art because they admire the painting, or is it because the colors suit the room they wish to display it in, or are they reminded of a feeling, an emotion that is captured by the picture? A friend of mine has a theory that only paintings with orange in them sell. After this I went around to art shows checking out the paintings that had sold. Sure enough most of them did have orange in them. All I know is that I will keep painting things because I like them. The subject needs to appeal to me, inspire me and bring out an emotion or a thought. Once art is no longer enjoyable I think there will be no point in continuing to paint.

The Wedding

2008-10-10T04:54:00.000-07:00

I was with my art group on Thursday and one of the members had been to a work shop by Agata Latek. I hope I have written her name correctly. They painted black and white pastel pictures on brown paper. The image was blocked in and then methylated spirits was introduced on the paper to produce some interesting effects. Then the picture was reworked with detail. Well Janet in my class who had been to the workshop had produced a masterpiece and this inspired me to try something myself. It did not quite go to plan. The metho didn't run the pastel as well on colorfix paper and I was a little disappointed with the results. I am going to attempt again but on different paper.

The image for my painting came from a trip to the city on Sunday where some models were having thir photos taken in wedding clothes presumably to advertise the gowns. I caught these two looking on at the photoshoot from behind.

City Buskers

2008-09-25T00:06:00.000-07:00

I decided on a really loose style this time. These two buskers were in the city when I photographed them. They were sitting much further apart then this picture depicts. I then had some issues with ensuring they belonged together. To solve this problem I made the painting extremely impressionistic. I am not sure what the instrument on the right is. I should have asked.

A group of Sketches

2008-09-23T00:09:00.000-07:00

I haven't had any finished paintings to publish lately and I thought I would share some of the sketches I have been doing. You may see some of them as finished paintings soon.

Koko Lime

2008-09-11T14:03:00.000-07:00

If you are ever in Melbourne Victoria, then visit Koko Lime, shop 20A Alchester Cres, Boronia. My art is now hanging on their wall for sale.

The big night out

2008-09-11T03:04:00.000-07:00

I am reading a book by Carole Katchen and her work inspired this piece. I wanted to illustrate the fun at this dinner. The emphasis is on the glasses and the bottles of alcohol. I hope you find this piece as fun as I did painting it.

Clown

2008-09-07T03:28:00.000-07:00

This picture is one I did last year and it surprises me every time I enter it into a competition. I had a few things in a show and I had other things earmarked for another show. I was running out of framed pictures (plenty of unframed pictures as can be seen in my blog). I thought I will put this picture in Mont de Lancey. This is a historic homestead in Wandin. The artists had to be living in the shire of Yarra Ranges and I purely came across the show by accident in the RACV magazine. Well I received a phone call today to say I had won an encouragement award for this picture, which also came with a monetry win. Very surprised and very delighted. This makes the last week a good one for me as I acheived a first at the Pastel Society for "What about me?" My good friend Wendi received a second. Check her blog out under the blogs I am watching.

I just found out this painting sold this week at the Mont de Lancey art show.

The Salamanca Buskers

2008-09-04T18:38:00.000-07:00

Everyone seems to know how much I enjoy drawing buskers. Linda from my art class went to Tasmania and visited the Salamanca market. She was kind enough to give me a photo of these buskers. They look extremely cold, all rugged up in their tartan blankets and berets. They look like they are concentrating hard and enjoying the music. The colors I have chosen are to help create the cold environment. I believe they must be siblings as they have a similar look.

On a roll this week. Went to Ringwood art Society last night withthis picture and won first prize in the ABC competition in the B section. The judge was Robyn Schubat. Robyn demonstrated palete knife painting. She depicted a laneway scene. The painting was portrayed in brilliant oranges and blues and completed within 1.5 hrs. Amazing demonstration.

Healesville Sanctuary-What's that? WIP

2008-08-26T01:09:00.000-07:00

I went to Healesville sanctuary on a school excursion recently to see "The disappearing froglet" with my son. There were a variety of schools involved. The kids had to go and learn about the environment and how pollution is affecting the frogs habitat. Great day but freezing cold. I didn't warm up until I went to bed that night.

Preliminary sketch to the left with ?finished work on right.

The focus is the boy in yellow and I have incorporated some of the yellow in the grasses. The children are all looking at a wallabie that is hiding in the scrub. I liked the pose of the yellow boy, with all the children looking for the allusive wallabie. I had lots of fun with the grasses. I added blues, and purples to create movement and interest.

I have revised this picture thanks to pastle guy's comments and have muted the background.

The Flower shop

2008-08-20T23:28:00.000-07:00

When I went into the city with friends, we stopped off in Richmond. We were going to see an amazingly expensive contemporary art show where all the paintings were in the 20-30,000 dollar mark. The only problem was it was Monday and the gallery was not open on a Monday. We had fun getting there and saw some beautiful places. This was a florist shop in Bridge road Richmond. It caught my eye. We saw lots of lovely shops. We also came across a little art shop on our travels which I hope to get back to. The style is different to my normal one, more illustrative.

Contemplation

2008-08-20T23:23:00.000-07:00

I went to life drawing yesterday. I haven't been in simply ages. Note to self I should go more often. I had a great time. The model was fantastic. We did five two minute warm ups and then she went into this pose for the rest of the time. Amazing her arms didn't drop off.

What about me?

2008-08-13T23:29:00.000-07:00

I've changed the name of the picture from "Friendship" to "What about me?"It is about the feeling of friendship created by the four children on the right and then the sad feelings portayed by the space of the little child on the left. It's hard being the smallest. This picture has been uploaded through various versions of finishedness. I think I have finally finished it. Last week I was so angry with it that I whacked my rag at it and the pastel dust flew into the air. I wiped off a lot of the pastel and started again. I think this is it. I will continue to contemplate the end product.

Lucky enough to win the September Generalist MEC awards at the Pastel Society of Victoria with this picture. My good friend Wendi was second with her lovley little girl pushing the pram. You can view her blog under blogs that I am following.

Horse and Carriage

2008-08-06T23:06:00.000-07:00

This picture is in the centre of Melbourne. The two horses are waiting passengers and are tied up to the side of the road.. There is a tram in the background and the light highlighting the church in the background.

Degraves Street

2008-07-31T00:03:00.000-07:00

I went into the city with a group of friends and found the people and the streets inspirational. Degraves street, full of the hustle and bustle of the city but with a touch of Europe. The shops all open out on to the street and the inside and the outside are all mixed together. I can't wait to get back there.

On the way to the beach

2008-07-20T18:53:00.000-07:00

My daughter and her cousin are captured walking up the sandy trails on the way to the baech. Purple and greens are on e of my favourite color combinations. I like the soft romantic look of this picture. The shadows prance across the paths. There are soft tufts of grasses in the foreground.

Jazzman

2008-07-20T18:47:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favourite pictures, unfortunately I have sold it and miss looking at it. I fell in love with the look of this man playing the double bass. The colors work really well together, the green of the jacket against the warmth of the instrument.

The Chocolate Shop

2008-07-20T18:44:00.000-07:00

The chocolate shop is a lovely coffee house in Montrose, nesteld amongst the trees. The building was a perfect backdrop for the tea party taking place.

In the backyard

2008-07-20T18:37:00.000-07:00

This picture was done from an old sepia photograph. It is of my mother and her cousin playing with the dog. They have turned to stare at the photographer. It was fun to work with tones of brown.

The Circus has come to town

2008-07-20T18:30:00.000-07:00

When I began this picture I loved the idea of the circus. The ferris wheel and the merry go round evokes many images of fun. I wanted them to appear slightly mysterious. The ferris wheel is in full flight. The people in the foreground are marching up the road to particpate in the fun of the circus. The lady in yellow turns slightly to her campanions.

White Cockatoos

2008-07-20T18:26:00.000-07:00

Here you have two white cockatoos sitting amongst the gum trees. I tried to capture the sun shing through the feathers and the many colors present in the feathers.

Musical Blues

2008-07-20T18:18:00.000-07:00

The picture on the left was my first attempt at this man playing his horn. The problem with him was that he was to close to the top of the paper but I really liked the movement of his jacket. I then started him again on the right at a later date. This time you miss out on his jacket and the movement created by it.

Batman Avenue, Melbourne

2008-07-08T17:45:00.000-07:00

We went into the city the other day and I was taken with this lamp post in the foreground. I hope this is your focal point in the picture as that is what I was attracted to. The two people meandering along were my friends that I went into the city with. It was a cold day and overcast. The sky was threatening to rain but we still had lots of fun.

Piano player

2008-07-08T17:16:00.000-07:00

I love music. This is a picture of my daughter playing the piano. I attempted to capture it in sepia tones and then added purple to the mix. It is a calm picture in contrast with the enrgy of the guitar player

Guitar Player

2008-07-08T17:08:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of my son playing the guitar. I was trying to create lots of energy and movement in the picture. He is concentrating on his music, absorbed in the moment.

The Watchers

2008-07-08T16:55:00.001-07:00

I was lucky enough to be lent a photo form a friend, who is an avid traveller. She snapped these children in Cambodia. I always wonder what they are thinking. I called this"The Watchers" as I feel they are quietly observing everyone. They seem to be wise beyond their years and rather than capturing them on camera, I feel they are observing the camera person and us. They are quietly evaluating surroundings and are maybe a little bored with the whole thing.

At the Beach

2008-07-08T16:48:00.000-07:00

One of my favourite places in the world is the beach. I love to watch the antics of all the other people on the beach. These two dogs captured my attention. They were frolicking in the water with a ball. Even now when I gaze at this picture I wonder if the lady walking along the beach has anything to do with the dogs or the owner is somewhere out of the picture.